Prishtina, 10 April 2013
Chaired by Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi, the Government of the Republic of Kosovo held its regular meeting in which it approved documents and decisions relating to its constitutional and legal responsibilities. At the opening of the meeting, Prime Minister Thaçi made a presentation of current political developments in the country, focusing on the normalization of inter-state relations between Kosovo and Serbia. The following is the full text of the speech of Prime Minister Thaçi in today’s Government meeting:
“At the start of this meeting, I would like to emphasize that the Government of the Republic of Kosovo, like all other relevant stakeholders, has been informed of Serbia’s refusal of Baroness Ashton’s proposal for normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia.
The proposals made by the European Union, and concretely by Baroness Ashton, are in the interests of peace, stability and the Europeanization of the region and will mark the start of the end of historic conflict in the region.
Kosovo has now made a series of compromises that culminate in the comprehensive settlement of President Ahtisaari. In addition, throughout the entire process, the Government and institutions of Kosovo have been ready for difficult decisions, but that which are in Kosovo’s interest and its European future. The Government of the Republic of Kosovo continues to believe that dialogue is the only solution and remains committed to this process.
The Kosovo Government trusts completely in the work of Baroness Ashton and Belgrade should have Brussels and Baroness Ashton’s cabinet as the only point of information and presentation for their own opinions, in meetings on reaching an agreement on normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia.
I wish to thank the United States of America for their continual support and the united position of all European Union countries in support of Baroness Ashton.
I re-emphasize that both Kosovo and Serbia, the region and the EU, will benefit from normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia; it is very important that the US and other relevant international mechanisms invest in this process.
Thus, Prishtina will work to the maximum to conclude this process, based on our commitments, and always respecting the constitution and laws of Kosovo, about which we are constantly in contact with Baroness Ashton, who we encourage as she promised, to conclude this process which is essential for peace and stability, and we thank her for her excellent and brilliant leadership”, said Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi at the opening of the meeting.
The Kosovo Government approved the Action Plan on Visa Liberalization, which addresses the criteria of the Visa Liberalization Guideline and recommendations that originate from the first evaluation report of the European Union on the Guideline’s implementation. The plan includes activities for which all domestic institutions are responsible.
The goal of this Plan is to collect all criteria that are within the Guideline on Visa Liberalization and the European Commission’s recommendations.
The plan comprises concrete actions and measurement indicators which will be used to monitor the implementation of criteria.
In addition, the plan clearly and in detail identifies the responsible and supporting institutions, deadlines and the additional budget for the implementation of these criteria and recommendations.
In today’s meeting a decision was approved on the defining and categorizing of Border Crossing Points of the Republic of Kosovo, for road, railway and air transport in the Republic of Kosovo.
The border crossing points for road traffic between the Republic of Kosovo and Republic of Albania are:
• Vërmica;
• Orqusha;
• Shishtaveci;
• Glloboqica/Borje;
• Qafa e Prushtit; and
• Qafa e Morinës.
The border crossing points for road traffic between the Republic of Kosovo and Republic of Montenegro are: Kulla;
The border crossing points for road traffic between the Republic of Kosovo and Republic of Serbia are:
• Bërnjaku;
• Jarinjë;
• Merdarë;
• Mutivoda;
• Dheu u Bardhë; and
• Muqibaba.
The border crossing points for road traffic between the Republic of Kosovo and Republic of Macedonia are:
• Hani i Elezit
• Glloboçica.
The border crossing points for railway traffic between the Republic of Kosovo and Republic of Macedonia are:
• Hani i Elezit.
The border crossing points for railway traffic between the Republic of Kosovo and Republic of Serbia are:
• Leshaku.
The border crossing point for air traffic in the Republic of Kosovo is:
• Prishtina “Adem Jashari” International Airport
According to their importance and activity, border crossing points for road, railway and air traffic are categorized according to categories A, B and C.
Category A includes: Prishtina “Adem Jashari” International Airport; Vermica; Merdari; Jarinjë; Hani i Elezit; Dheu i Bardhë; Kulla; and Stanqiqi.
These points are open 24 hours a day and allow the movement of persons, vehicles and goods.
Officials of the Kosovo Police, the Kosovo Customs and the Veterinary and Food Agency must be present at these border crossing points.
Category B includes: Mutivoda; Muqibaba; Glloboqica; Qafa e Prushit; Qafa e Morinës and Bernjaku.
Border crossing points in category B are open 24 hours and allow the movement of persons, vehicles and goods.
Officials of the Kosovo Police must be present 24 hours at these border crossing points, while the Kosovo Customs and the Veterinary and Food Agency must be present at time intervals according to a bilateral agreement between the two countries.
Category C includes: Krusheva; Orqusha; and Glloboqica/Borje.
Category C border crossing points are only for the movement of persons and are open at time intervals in accordance with bilateral agreements with neighboring states.
In the decision approved in today’s meeting of the Kosovo Government, a National Council on Economic Zones was appointed with this composition:
1. Valdrin Lluka – Ministry of Trade and Industry/Chair;
2. Nashide Bajrami – Ministry of Finance/Member;
3. Agim Kukaj – Ministry of Economic Development/Member;
4. Ekrem Gjokaj – Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development/Member;
5. Besim Kamberaj – Ministry of Local Government Administration/Member;
6. Naim Ismajli – Association of Kosovo Municipalities/Member;
7. Arian Zeka – American Chamber of Commerce/Member;
8. Muharrem Osmani – Kosovar Business Alliance/Member;
9. Lumnije Hashani – Kosovo Chamber of Commerce/Member;
In today’s meeting, a decision was approved for the further review of expropriation in the public interest of immoveable property in the cadastral zones of Balincë, Llazicë, Mleqani, and Kijevë, which are affected by the construction of the national highway N9, Prishtinë – Pejë, and respectively, the Gjurgjicë-Arllat segment.
A decision was approved for the further examination of a request for expropriation of immoveable property affected by the national highway N2, Prishtinë –Mitrovicë, the Milloshevë-Vushtrri segment. The properties are in the cadastral zones of Babimoc, Milloshevë in the municipality of Obilic, and Stanovc i Poshtëm and Stanovc i Epër, Gracë, Pestovë, Novosellë e Maxhunit, Velika Rekë and Dumnicë e Poshtme in the municipality of Vushtrria.
Last modified: July 31, 2022